Luke 21:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The widow contributed two small coins, yet she had given all she possessed: departing from the treasury with an empty hand but a generous spirit, she offered everything. Did she not justly claim the crown? Did not the decree of honor rightfully befall her? Has she not surpassed your generosity, at least in her readiness to give? The wise apostle Paul notes, “For if anyone is willing, he is accepted according to what he has, and not according to what he does not have.” The wealthy can indeed gain God’s favor by sharing with those in need; the Savior of all will receive their offerings. Equally, the one who has little can find favor through their humble contributions, and they will experience no loss as a result. The All-Knowing commends their willingness, honors their intentions, and elevates them alongside the rich, or perhaps crowns them with even greater distinction.

Furthermore, let us reflect on this significant observation: a multitude was gathered in the temple, some offering lavish sacrifices such as fatted bulls and sheep, incense, and other necessary items laid out by the law. Yet, the Savior’s focus was not primarily on these offerings but rather on those who presented their sacrifices in the treasury: to those who were kind and benevolent. He welcomes the fragrant offering of spiritual service but turns away from actions merely following tradition or obligation. He understands the inadequacy of mere rituals; the shadows do not suffice. Hence, He values charity towards the less fortunate; understanding this, one of the holy Apostles proclaimed, “Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” We also note that the commandment of Moses encourages love for the poor and inspires acts of kindness. For it is the same God who established both the commandment given through Moses and the way of the Gospel, for He is unchanging. One of the prophets declared, “I, who speak to you, am near.” Through Moses, He instructed, “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren in one of your cities in the land which the Lord your God is giving you, do not harden your heart or close your hand against your brother in need. Instead, open your hand wide to him; generously give him what he needs.” Note how the scriptures treat almsgiving as a loan; for it is God who accepts and returns blessings, not equally, but overflowing. “For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” As the wise Paul states, “God loves a cheerful giver.”

And we are to show compassion not from a place of scarcity or obligation, but from a heart of love, devoid of favoritism, and with genuine affection. Even the ancient law emphasizes this, stating, “You shall not feel grief in your heart when you give to him; for then the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all to which you put your hand.” Therefore, Paul teaches, “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart; not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Love that manifests in poverty is not fruitless but is a debt that will be richly rewarded. Thus, we must strive diligently to fulfill this obligation, confident that generous giving will bring us blessings in return. For the Apostle encourages us with these words: “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully; each one as he has determined in his heart.” To urge us against complacency in our good efforts, he adds, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency, may abound in every good work. As it is written, ‘He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.’” Whoever demonstrates mercy toward the poor will never be abandoned; rather, they will be esteemed by Christ, our Savior; to Him, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory and authority forever. Amen.

A humble gift from a poor individual holds greater value than a lavish donation from someone of considerable means; it matters not how much is given, but rather how much remains. No one has contributed more than someone who gives their all without keeping anything for themselves.

Why should those with wealth boast in front of the needy? Clad in gold and adorned with fine garments, you act as though these possessions are insignificant compared to your riches, seeking honor simply for surpassing the impoverished in worldly wealth. Just as rivers surge with water during floods, a mere sip from a stream can be more fulfilling. Young wine may overflow during fermentation, yet the farmer overlooks the loss as it flows away. During the threshing of grain, despite the noise and chaos, there is an abundance of flour once the process is complete, and a widow’s small vessel of oil remains full even as the drought drains the resources of the wealthy. Thus, nothing should be detested, but all that is offered with a righteous heart should be cherished for its true worth. Overall, no one has given more than the widow who nourished the prophet with her children's share of food. Because of her selfless act, she is unmatched in dignity and reward.

Do not regard with disdain this woman who contributes two small coins to the treasury. In the eyes of God, she is truly great, deserving preference over all others. Is she not the woman whose faith joined the two covenants for the benefit of humanity? None other among women has done greater things than she. Furthermore, no man can rival her in generosity, as she harmoniously wove faith and charity together. Therefore, let each widow who navigates her trials remember not to hesitate in offering her two small coins—symbolizing her complete trust and love.

Blessed is she who draws forth from her treasury an unblemished image of the King. Your treasury consists of wisdom, purity, righteousness, and virtuous thoughts—akin to that treasury from which the wise men presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh at the worship of the Lord. Gold represents the might of the King, incense signifies our reverence toward God, and humility acknowledges the resurrection of the body. You possess this treasury within you; seek it and find it there, for we carry our treasures in fragile vessels. You also have gold to offer, but not the precious metal valued by men; rather, God seeks the intangible gold that cannot be consumed by fire on the day of judgment. He is not in need of lavish gifts but desires the fragrant offering of faith that arises from your heart, embodying the love of a holy spirit.

From this treasury also arise the two copper coins of the widow, within which shines the pure image of the heavenly King and His glorious essence. Virtue is another valuable gift, borne of great effort, represented by the widow who tirelessly toils day and night, maintaining her chastity while caring for her dear children and supporting the needy. Such a widow deserves recognition far greater than the affluent; this is the standard by which Christ will judge righteously.

This is the widow to whom you should aspire, daughters: for it is commendable to be zealous for good things. The Lord observes you always; Christ sees when you approach the treasury, preparing to offer alms from the earnings of your honest labor. You come forth with your copper coins, yet you receive back the body of Christ! Therefore, present yourself before the Lord your God clothed in charity, faith, and purity, for Jesus does not merely commend those who are materially poor, but those rich in virtues. Let Him behold you, young maidens, diligently working. This is the offering you should bring to God: extend your gratitude even for the goodness found in others. There is no more excellent expression of thanks to God than that which intertwines acts of piety.

When a poor widow placed only two small coins, worth just over half a kopeck, into the treasury, He summoned His disciples and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put more than all those who put into the treasury; for all put in from their abundance, but she, from her poverty, put in all that she had, all her sustenance.” In this moment, the Lord illustrated to His disciples that the value of a sacrifice is determined by God not by its amount or external appearances, but by the genuine commitment and purity of heart with which it is offered to Him.

A lepta was valued at an eighth of an assarion, equating to just over half a penny, making her entire offering come to slightly more than a single penny. Though she might have felt embarrassed by her poverty while rich men surrounded her with their gold, Christ recognized the depth of her faith and her willingness to sacrifice. Her offering was akin to a ‘cup of cold water’ that, when given with love, would receive rewards in His kingdom. Thus, He intended to impart an enduring lesson: the true measure of generosity lies in the level of self-denial involved. The widow's sacrifice in her poverty exceeded that of the wealthiest Pharisee who contributed gold. “For they all contributed out of their abundance; she, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on.”

The Lord silently regarded these donations.

Amidst the wealthy and ostentatious, a poor widow approached the temple treasury and placed two lepta—the smallest denomination, equivalent to a penny—into it. Although her sacrifice seemed insignificant, the Lord valued it according to its true worth, for as St. Gregory the Theologian remarks, "God does not measure the giving by the dignity of the one given, but by the strength and disposition of the giver." Summoning His disciples, the Lord proclaimed, "Amen, I say unto you, this poor widow has contributed more to the treasury than all the others, for they have given out of their abundance, but she has given all she had, her entire livelihood, to God." This illustrates the profound truth articulated by Venerable Isidore Pelusiot: every act done to the best of one's ability ascends to the heavens; the widow who offered her two mites is celebrated as surpassing all sovereigns, as it was her will, not merely the amount, that God acknowledged. This incident serves as a reminder of how the Divine Teacher employed even the smallest events to convey significant moral truths, in contrast to the Pharisees who distorted vital truths through their misinterpretations, rendering them devoid of significance.